P300 million worth of shabu seized in

Southern Tagalog

By Rene Acosta

JOINT teams of drug-enforcement agents, soldiers and policemen arrested on Wednesday two Taiwanese and three Chinese in Quezon and Laguna, and busted an international drug syndicate operating in the country.

The teams also seized during the operations P300 million worth of liquid methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, chemical ingredients and various laboratory equipment, said Derrick Carreon, spokesman for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Arrested were Taiwanese Chiu Lu Hsiang and Wu Jung Shien, and Chinese Lin Hai Jung, Weng Shi Chiang and Wu Chih Yang, members of the Ah Chang drug group, which is connected with the international drug syndicate Chin Shan Lin.

The five were captured in simultaneous raids at their group’s clandestine factory in sitio Arcao, barangay Maragundun in Real, Quezon, and at their warehouse at Lot 1, Block 23, Doña Justina Street, Filinvest South Subdivision, Biñan, Laguna.

The raids were carried out on the strength of search warrants issued by Executive Judge Thelma Panferada of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City.

Carreon said the Ah Chang group was the fourth drug syndicate busted by the PDEA this year.

He said the PDEA tapped the support of members of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division because the group’s factory was located in a mountainous portion of Quezon.

Those arrested were initially identified as Taiwanese Chiu Lu Hsiang, and Wu Jung Hsien, and mainland Chinese alias Lin Hai Jung; alias Weng Shi Chiang and Wu Chih Yang.

However, investigators are still verifying the identities of the four as they may have been carrying forged identification documents.

The discovery of the shabu laboratory and chemical warehouse is part of “Oplan Blister.”

PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago said he will put under investigation Real Mayor Joel Diestro and Barangay Chairman Danilo Lotera.

Diestro denied knowledge of the existence of shabu laboratory in his town and even residents of Real expressed disbelief of the discovery by drug enforcement agents.

“Walang magkakalakas ng loob na maglalagay ng shabu laboratory kung walang malaking tao na nasa likuran nito,” a PDEA agent said. (With J. Bello)

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